Opengeslagen bijbel in de Doopsgezinde Vermaning te Zaandam 1942 - 1973

This is a photograph by Cor van Weele of an open bible in the Doopsgezinde Vermaning in Zaandam, but when? The date is missing, but the image feels quite timeless to me. It's interesting how the tonal range in the photograph creates depth. The grays, silvers, and blacks form a stark but gentle contrast. It really shows the light in the image, and our eyes are drawn to the whiteness of the open pages. The book is so big, it's almost as if we are small mice standing before it, looking up in awe. The spectacles are really key. They make me feel like a presence has just stepped away from the book. Perhaps, they were deep in thought. It makes me wonder what they were reading. Perhaps this image speaks to the tradition of Dutch painting, where interiors and everyday objects are imbued with a sense of quiet contemplation, much like a Vermeer or a Pieter de Hooch. I like art that doesn't give you all the answers, that leaves something open for your imagination.